Expectations and Preparations

[barbiesway]

I have my knee replacement surgery on Aug 3 and was wondering those of you who have already gone through this; what your expectations where and what preparations you made ahead of time. Also, what would you have done differently, what did you learn that might help others in there journey. My Dr. does not require me to make a blood donation in advance but I have heard most do. Did anyone else's Dr. not ask them to do donate?

 

[Texas]

Hi Barbie,
here is so much info on here for you to get ready for your surgery. Best thing I can say before the surgery is build up your quads the best you can. I didnt and I remember looking at my legs after surgery waiting for them to go up in the air, I couldnt lift them..I would even scream at them like they really could here me...lol...I didnt have to give blood either. The first 2 weeks are the toughest but dont be brave take your medicine on time. You dont want to play catch up....And after just ice that will be your new friend and elevate as much as possible. Others will post here as well....Take care and good luck. I hope you continue to post before and after surgery. We are all here for you and have been thru it ourselves....Oh and stool softeners (i know) but really that pain medicine can mess you up....and yes on that note..lol...Welcome....The people here are fantastic....

 

[Jamie]

It was optional for me to give blood. I didn't and didn't need any after surgery.

There are some things you can do prior to surgery:

* Stock up on easy to prepare meals or make and freeze food
* Arrange for a walker, crutches, toilet riser or rails and/or cane (they may be provided for you at the hospital
* Arrange for someone to be with you if at all possible the first couple of days
* Set up a place for you to sleep that is close to a bathroom and ideally on the same floor as your living area
* Remove any loose rugs from your floors
* Get stool softeners as the pain meds can make you constipated
* Get some type of icing system - either an automatic one like Polar Care or enough gel packs to use 2 at a time and have 2 in the freezer.
* Have something available to eat when you take your pain meds (crackers, cookies, brownies)....you need a little something to keep your stomach from getting upset

 

[calling_all_angels]

Barbie,
Hello it is so nice to meet you.
There is so much info on this forum. You will be busy reading right up untill your day of surgery!!! LOL I know I did. Jamie and Kim has all ready started giving you good info.

 

[Jamie]

Barbie, I moved your thread from the social forum (which is mainly for chatting about non-surgery topics) to the knee surgery forum. It fits better here and it will probably get more attention from others.

 

[Texas]

I wish I had that list prior, Jamie but I wasnt here. Wish I had been.

 

[FrogFeathers]

My doctor never mentioned to me about donating my own blood. I found out on Friday from my mother's home-nurse that where we live charges you $100 (or $200, I wasn't truly paying attention) to store your own blood for yourself. So, even if I'd been asked to, I wouldn't have.

And going on Jamie's list- I recommend Special K Cereal bars. They come in a variety of flavors (though strawberry and blueberry were my favorite). They're a quick snack, chock full of vitamins, and easy to carry/store as they come individually wrapped.

 

[Oldie]

My Dr. did not ask my to donate any blood, I asked him and he said not necessary that I would not lose any blood and what I did lose was very minimal.

 

[loggon]

If you read you may want to get several books and some magazines. Some magazines for the hospital and at home.

You need to check your health insurance an know what they will offer for home health care and how many and what type of physical therapy you will be able to have.

 

[Jamie]

I wish I had that list prior, Jamie but I wasnt here. Wish I had been.

Me too, Kim. I didn't know about the forum until after my surgery and I was basically clueless.

 

[Joyan6642]

Hi Barb,
You already have a good idea of things to do to get ready for the surgery, or at least to be ready when you come home. The one other things I could add is to set up in a room where you can watch tv or read at odd hours during the night. I had a lot of touble sleeping the first few weeks. I had set up the extra room and that really worked out well. I also stocked up on lite foods and snacks. You may not have much of an appitite at first but you need to eat especially when you take the pain meds.

 

[Jamie]

Barb, one other thing....if you have access to an exercise bicycle, get it in place. It is THE BEST for working on your ROM in recovery. Also, it helped me with my restless legs at night.

 

[Texas]

I tell you what the things I learned here I couldn't get from a book...The books are informative as well. .Soooo much info here. . Its the actual experiences and personal stories I like,

 

[giulia]

How long after the surgery do you start exercising on the bike? Which is better for TKR exercise, a recumbent or an upright?

 

[Josephine]

Either are good, which ever takes your fancy and you have room for and you can start as soon as you feel up to it. But don't go mad at the start. About 3-4 mins once or twice a day in the first few days is plenty. Before your stitches/clips/steristrips are removed and for a week or so after, don't try to go all the way round but just rock back and forth on the pedals. The PT will advise you further according to your progress.



Best things I got were
~ a leg lifter. Made such a lot of difference and I only wish I had taken it into hospital with me!

~ a bar seat that went across the bath so I could sit on the end and use the leg lifter to lift my leg in to and out of the bath. (Would have loved this one!)



~ frame to go around the toilet so I had arms to push up off the loo. Doesn't have to have a loo seat on it, just the frame.

 

[sykeRN]

Hi Barb and welcome to the forum from another newbie!

I have my LTKR on 8/10 and have been doing lots of exercise -quads-quads-quads!!-- to prepare for surgery. I also am beginning to think about preparing our house and getting needed equipment. I get so many ideas from the members of this forum. Read old threads--a world of info.

I now have also purchased an (not expensive) exercise bike recently and have an excellent reference book:Total Knee Replacement and Rehabilitation by Daniel J. Brugioni,M.D. and Jeff Falkel,Ph.D,PT,CSCS which has been repeatly recommended by members. My OS does not have patients donate their own blood.

I read this forum for a year before I joined--I am so glad I've also joined for the support. Hope you post often. Nancy

 

[GaryM]

Hey Barb I would get a recumbent exercise bike. I have one and use it all the time. I am 1 year post op today and still use it. I think one of the biggest things is when using the bike is to just get the peddles going all the way around. You my be wondering when I said "all the way around" but you'll see. Thats a work out all on it's own. I believe it helped me.

Get your PT scheduled as soon as possible. They may not have any appointments available after your surgery. You don't want to be just sitting around. Besides this way you can get on a good schedule. Say Monday Wednesday and Friday at 10 or 11 am. This will give you plenty of time to get ready in the morning. And after PT go to lunch while your out. I didn't feel like eating for several weeks after my BLTKR. I found myself very week and passing out because I didn't eat. Eating something after PT will at least get you through the day.

Gary

 

[Jamie]

How long after the surgery do you start exercising on the bike? Which is better for TKR exercise, a recumbent or an upright?

You can start on the bike after a few days to a week. It depends on how you feel and how you're getting around. You obviously need to be able to get to the bike and lift your legs enough to safely get on and off.

The way you start with it is to place the seat rather far back (recumbent) or up (upright model) so that you don't have an excessive bend to pedal all the way around. Put your feet on the pedals and go slowly forward until your knee won't bend anymore, then go backwards. Keep repeating this "rocking" motion. Don't worry if you can't go all the way around at first....you'll surprise yourself one day and suddenly just do it! That is your goal - to get all the way around....even if you have to slightly lift your hip to do it for the first few times. Once you can go around, do that for a couple of days. Then repeat this same process after gradually lowering the seat or moving it forward (recumbent bike). The ultimate goal is to have the seat at the setting that gives you the most bend in your knee (ROM) and be able to pedal for increasing amounts of time. Just be sure to do all this gradually and don't rush to the ultimate goal.

Some people prefer recumbent bikes (they are supposed to be easier on your back because you have back support) and others like an upright. It really makes no difference with a TKR. The thing that is good is the smooth motion of the pedals and the ability to increase your ROM slowly by adjusting the seat.

When you begin riding for real, start out with short rides of less than 5 minutes. Do that for a few days and then gradually add a minute; do that for a few days; add another minute....and so on until you reach 30 minutes (that will be way, way into recovery!). At any time if you experience a lot of swelling or pain, that's the signal that you're overdoing it. Cut back on the time for a while until you are comfortable.

 

[Linda2]

All the things they said plus PILLOWS! I need pillows to put under my leg (NOT just the knee, but the whole length, pillows to rest the "up" leg on when I roll to one side or the other, pillows for my head, and just about anywhere. I make quite a nest!

 

[barbiesway]

Thank you all for the wealth of information, a lot of things I hadn't heard of before that really make good sense and I'm sure will be helpful. I have been riding my upright bike, doing leg lifts side, forward and back everyday for two weeks now so I am hoping that will help with my recovery also. I bought some of the Sunsweet Ones (individually wrapped prunes) and will have my sister bring some of those to the hospital so hopefully that will help with getting regular with the meds.
How long before you can go back to driving? I have read that it is usually six week but was wondering if that is the case with most people. I was also wondering about the height of bed and things to sit on. Everyone mentions to have things not too low but what area of your leg would be considered low? My bed is kinda high at hip level (or 11 inches over the knee), my coach sofa is about 5.5 inches below my knee, and my daughters bed is 5.5 inches above the knee. Trying to figure which room I should put myself in. thank you all agian for your help.